The participation of migrants in the design and implementation of integration-relevant policies

The Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion 2021–2027 highlights the importance of involving migrants and EU citizens with a migrant background in shaping the policies that affect them. Active participation in consultative and decision-making processes not only empowers migrants but also leads to more effective, responsive integration and inclusion policies. As part of the multi-stakeholder approach, the European Commission encourages Member States to engage migrants and migrant organisations in the design, implementation, and evaluation of these policies, including those supported by EU funding.

To assess how this principle is being applied, the Migrant Integration Hub conducted an EU-wide analysis through its network of national integration experts. The findings map current approaches to involving migrants in policymaking across local, regional and national levels, revealing substantial variation among Member States. This research is complemented by comparative data from the Migration Policy Group (MPG)’s new political participation policy index - produced within the context of the New Europeans Initiative - and the recently updated Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX). It also includes insights from nine AMIF-funded transnational projects focused on promoting migrant participation in integration policy design and implementation.

Key findings from the report include:

• Migrant involvement in policy design and implementation varies widely across EU Member States, with some using well established formal consultation structures and others implementing fewer comprehensive mechanisms.
• Most meaningful engagement is found to occur at the local level, where cities and municipalities often pioneer inclusive consultative bodies.
• Civil society drives progress: Migrant-led and NGO initiatives frequently fill institutional gaps, building capacity and ensuring migrant voices are heard.
• Limited funding, political will, and awareness hinders sustained and meaningful participation by migrant communities in some places.
• Successful AMIF-funded projects such as 2incING, MILE, and SHAPE show how collaboration between migrants and authorities is serving to strengthen integration policies across the EU.